My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

New Kind of Roses

Since I have to make some things—having been challenged by my eBay group—for my Christmas tree next year, I've been looking at some inexpensive things I can make along with some purchased balls. I found these scrunched flowers and though I'd share a tutorial with you.

They are originally made with card stock and this is what I had on hand tonight; although, I did make some with coffee filters since I have a glut left over from making the roses. Do NOT try the coffee filter roses if you've had too much caffeine! It could be detrimental to your well being. Trust me on this one! Stick with these "scrunch flowers."

Anyway, I'm going to show you how to do both and the difference. Yes, there is a difference. Coffee filter ones are very soft and "floppy" while the card stock dries rather rigid.

As I said I used what was available and I had these water colors so I used them on both. I'll try acrylic paints later. I also learned some valuable lessons you won't have to bother with since I've found all the hard things beforehand. ;-)

I made a template out of a sheet of copy paper. You will need 2 sizes and this is what I started out with: the large one is about 4" wide...

...the small one is about 2" wide. I think this is too big so I'll do some smaller next time.

Size comparison for you.

Cut 3 pieces of the large one and 3 pieces of the small one.
Then spray a mist of water on each of the six flowers. Mist, not saturate and punch a hole in the center after placing all 6 together. Then scrunch it up into a tiny little ball—all six pieces. Scrunch, scrunch and more scrunch! Put a brad through them starting with the smaller 3 first and then adding the 3 larger ones.

This is the coffee filter one. Very pliable.

This is the card stock one. I experimented with the watercolors. Dabbing gently on pink and then yellow.

The two of them side by side.

This morning I got up and did this one with card stock and photographed it out in the early morning light so it has that ethereal blue light that comes just before the sun peaks and peeks over our horizon on this side of the world. I love it but it doesn't give the brightest and best light. The others were taken at my kitchen table at night with incandescent light.

This one I did with the original size of the small flower but decreased the size to 2 3/4" for the large flower. I like it much better. I shall try it again with 2 1/2" for the large flower and 1 1/2" for the small flower. I, also, did the watercolor with a brush that was almost dry. I wet the brush, dried it off with a paper towel and then stuck it right into the red paint in the paint tray. I didn't dilute it in a bit of water, just almost full strength and touched the ends very lightly with the brush. You can experiment on your own for the look you prefer. Very easy and cheap.

Okay, since Love Bunny is tired of having all this stuff on the kitchen table I've decided to skip the "coloring" part and just use plain white card stock for this one. My craft room is in such a disarray that I can't even function in there. Yikes. I guess I'd better clean it up a bit, but I needed a bunch of space on a table top to do this experiment. Hence, these are the last ones for a while until after Thanksgiving.

These were the easiest and quickest. I used a compass to make 3 circles 3" round and 3 circles 1 1/2" and cut them out with some fancy schmancy scissors, scrunched them unmercifully after misting them and then glued them together with a button glued into the center. Use your creative mind and put things other than buttons in the center. Some glue and glitter in the center, a piece of jewelry, ribbon bows, bottle caps or anything you desire can be adorable. I don't know if I'll be making a bunch of these for the Christmas tree next year but I shall make some. I am going to also make them out of scrapbooking paper in pink with roses. With those I'll not mist them at all. I think it is thin enough to just scrunch, glue together with a button and put a little ribbon on them to hang from the tree or simply stand them on a limb for fillers.



Okay, okay, I just couldn't stand it without pink so I went ahead and just dabbed pink acrylic craft paint on the edges and look how much more depth this gives it. This last one is definitely the easiest and quickest flower.

This is absolutely, positively the last one before I publish this blog post. Again, the easiest way is to cut circles, scrunch and glue together. Very, very quick. I used 2 different designs of paper here and put some glue in the center and sprinkled it with some glitter. No spritzing the paper this time. Oooh, and I did a 1 1/2" on the outer one and 3/4" on the inner circle. A very nice flower for a card. Cut out several and have on hand for whatever occasion you have.

These would be absolutely great for making cards and putting a flower on them. Quick enough not to get too involved and you can make several ahead at one time and have them ready whenever you might need them. After all, they can't get any more "scrunched" without looking even better! Happy crafting!!!!
~*~

24 comments:

  1. Fantastic idea Connie! They'd make adorable package toppers too! ☺

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  2. Connie these are simply gorgeous each one comes out so unique and pretty! I have to thank you for such a wonderful tutorial as well ... not a step missed ... thanks for spending the extra time putting this together, I'm going to try my hand at these beauties!!

    Have a happy Thanksgiving!!

    xo
    Jill

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  3. Oh wow, where have I been? I adore your flowers. I might even have to go buy some filters as we are all tea drinkers in this house. :)

    Lovely work.

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  4. Morning, Dear Connieness! Oh, these are darling! You are just the smartest one! I might could do this! Have a blessed Thanksgiving,
    Shelia ;)

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  5. Ooh sweetie...
    I am lovin this craft. I have so much paper, and I am going to have to try my hand at a few. You could put little bells in the center if did them in red or gold or silver for the holidays. It would be so festive. I am going to try and make some on my packages.

    Thanks for the share as always I love to learn a new craft.

    Have a beautiful Thanksgiving sweetie. Country hugs and much love, Sherry

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  6. Very pretty posies. Your tutorial makes me think that even I could do this. I am definitely going to highlight this post.

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  7. Thanks for sharing your paper roses with us.Pretty, simple and elegant! I just need more time in my day to make all the great crafts in blogland.
    Happy Thanksgiving to You.
    Warmly,
    Deb :)

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  8. Oh, Connie, I am loving these. I have to try making some. The tutorial is perfectly laid out...thank you!

    By the way, I love what you wrote, "the sun peaks and peeks..." Pure poetry, my friend.

    xoxo
    Claudia

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  9. Connie That is very neat.I would have never thought of using cardboard.Thank you for showing us how.Hugs,Jen

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  10. I love them ALL..you talented LADY...you!!!!
    Keep the ideas coming..I love watching you create.....
    When I grow up I want to craft and decorate and sew...JUST LIKE YOU !
    Deby

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  11. Omygosh Connie! I have been dying to know how to make these flowers! THANK YOU so much for 'splaining it! :-D You did a beautiful job and looks like alotta fun to make!
    One question: when you make the 'round' flowers using scrapbook paper, do you use the kind that's printed on both sides? Or just use the ones with white on the back?
    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
    Blessings to you!
    Myrna

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  12. Brilliant tutorial Connie, thank you.

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  13. Wow honey! I love these and so easy too! Why didn't I think of the this?

    You have turned me on to yet another obsession!! I don't know if to thank you or not. Hubby probably won't get dinner tonight. LOL

    Hugs,
    Bertie
    Aunt May's Cottage

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  14. Hi Connie
    How great these are. I love them! They are so very pretty...and I can think of many uses for them.
    thank you for sharing the tutorial with us.
    Hope you are having a wonderful day ...getting ready for Thanksgiving. We had ours in October but I'm looking forward to celebrating the U.S. Thanksgiving this week.
    Judi

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  15. Connie I love these flowers!!! Thanks so much for the tutorial. I'm going to try them. I think I'll do as you suggested and make a bunch of them to have on hand for whenever I need a pretty flower like that. Thank you!!

    Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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  16. Stunning! Love it - great idea and I'm definitely going to try this out. I've seen them for sale (I don't even want to THINK about the price...) and these are way nicer.

    I also love your new look - my, you have been busy. Take my eye off you for one second, lol...

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  17. Way cool! I'm going to have to give that one a try.

    So simple and yet complicated in my wee little mind. My mind is already spinning with creative possiblities!

    ~Stacey

    P.S. I found a VCR! You'll have it when you get back!

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  18. Those are great !! cant wait to try that :) Miss you Chickie !! :) Hope LB and you have a Great Thanksgiving !! We are going to Mom's. :) Hugs and smooches xoxox

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  19. Beautiful Connie, just beautiful.
    you are so talented, coming up with all these pretty things, and so kind to take the time to show us how to do it, too.
    Much love and hoping you have a great Thanksgiving...
    blessings, glenda

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  20. Oooooooh, Connie, they are lovely! I saw one of your commenters said they would look great on packages...what a great idea, too.

    I wish I could be crafty.... sometime in the next few years, I suppose. ALthough I just made a WELCOME HOME" sign for my step son's homecoming on Thanksgiving!

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  21. Hi Connie,
    This is a wonderful idea to make ahead and have on hand. I love them both, but easy and quick is the way to go in my world. LOL!!

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
    Love to you, Celestina Marie

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  22. Oh, those flowers are exquisite! I love the delicate and romantic look of them. And so many ways to use them, too. Thank you for the tutorial. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. Vicki

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  23. You have too much energy..
    My coffee filters are just staying in the coffee pot.

    giggle.

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.